26. What do you believe when you say: "I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth"?

That the eternal Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who of nothing made heaven and earth with all that in them is, 1) who likewise upholds, and governs the same by His eternal counsel and providence, 2) is for the sake of Christ, His Son, my God and my Father, 3) in whom I so trust as to have no doubt that He will provide me with all things necessary for body and soul; 4) and further, that whatever evil He sends upon me in this troubled life, He will turn to my good; 5) for He is able to do it, being Almighty God, 6) and willing also, being a faithful Father. 7)

1) And God saw everything that he had made, and, behold it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day. Gen. 1:31.

By the word of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth. Ps. 33:6.

* For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him. Col. 1:16.

* Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. Heb. 11:3.

2) Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain: who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters: who maketh the clouds his chariots: who walketh upon the wings of the wind: who maketh his angels spirits, his ministers a flaming fire: who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed for ever. Ps. 104:2-5.

But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Matt. 10:30.

Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high. Heb. 1:3.

But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased. Ps. 115:3.

* God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needeth any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things. Acts 17:24,25.

3) But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name. John 1:12.

For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. Rom. 8:15.

To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. Gal. 4:5-7.

Having predestined us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will. Eph. 1:5.

* For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man. Eph. 3:14-16.

* Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him. Matt. 6:8.

4) Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved. Ps. 55:22.

Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do their reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? Matt. 6:25, 26. (See also Luke 12:22-24).

Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations. before the mountains were brought forth, or even thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God. Ps. 90:1,2.

5) And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose. Rom. 8:28.

* That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: for in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring. Acts 17:27,28.

6) For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. Rom. 10:12.

7) Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him? Matt. 7:9-11.

* God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good'? Num. 23:19.

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